Pregnant Women.

[Sasha]

Just curious, did you work in the field throughout your pregnancy? Why or why not?

 

[Sasha]

Aw darnit, I wanted to add a poll.

 

[el Murpharino]

Just curious, did you work in the field throughout your pregnancy? Why or why not?

I work with someone who has been at work up until her 36th week....she was on light duty the last two months.

 

[Scout]

Just curious, did you work in the field throughout your pregnancy? Why or why not?

Something you want to say Sasha. We could have a party.:beerchug:

 

[ClarkKent]

We could have a party.:beerchug:

Ah Sasha, why did you not tell us.

 

[TransportJockey]

Some news for us Sasha? Any excuse for a party

 

[Epi-do]

I can't believe you didn't tell me when we talked last night!!!!

Now, to answer your question, no, I did not work during my pregnancy. I started having cramping at around 8-9 weeks and had had two previous miscarriages. I was on light duty since anything very strenuous triggered the cramping. My OB agreed to play it safe to help ease my mind a little bit. I was a complete mess.

 

[Sasha]

Originally, I wasn't going to humor you all, but no.

The only party we will be throwing is a Not Pregnant Party.

The conversation came up between me and someone else, I thought it was a bad idea but she was telling me about people she used to work with who worked their entire pregnancy.

I personally could not see putting myself and the fetus at risk like that.

 

[TransportJockey]

To be honest, we found out almost three months ago that my fiance was pregnant. She told me she wanted to work throughout the pregnancy (she works as a basic for an IFT company), but at about 8 weeks she wound up miscarrying. Her doc said part of the reason could have been all the heavy lifting and stress that was involved. I wouldn't want her to work through out it again.

 

[Aidey]

I only know of one person at my current job that worked while pregnant, and she worked up until 34 weeks, and then went on maternity leave. I think it's one of those things that is going to depend on the person, how their pregnancy is going, and what their doctor says, and their employer.

 

[Hockey]

Not my kid!

 

[Medic744]

I worked up until the day before my scheduled c section. My doctor told me that working up until my due date was up to me, she advised against it but told me to just be very aware of my body and how I was feeling. I went back to work before she would have liked too. I think its up to each person, the group they work with, and how much is being asked of them. Light duty was not an option for me since we had a workers comp situation going on with another medic at the time. My son is now a healthy and vibrant 11 week old. The only fear I had was that he was going to come out with Stryker printed on his forehead as many times as I bounced the stretcher off my belly. Lifting and moving around was never a problem for me, but then again I think I had a perfect pregnancy. The only thing that ever made me think twice was when we would go to a call my Booger Bear would work his way up into my rib cage making it difficult for me to breath. Otherwise there were no problems. Our small town is very good about backing each other up and there were always firefighters or PD and our volunteers on scene even if I didn't need them.

 

[lightsandsirens5]

The only party we will be throwing is a Not Pregnant Party.

Ha ha ha! And like 5 poeple are ready to drop everting, congratulate you and have a party.

(Yes I was going to just automatically post a congrats, :blush: but I decided to read the whole thread first. lol'ed when I saw this!)

As for the main topic, I would say no, a woman should be on LOA during the entire pregnancy. It just seem like to much of a risk to me. All that stress, heavy lifting, exposure to nasty stuff, etc..............

 

[Aidey]

Would you also say that pregnant nurses and doctors shouldn't practice either?

 

[Sasha]

Would you also say that pregnant nurses and doctors shouldn't practice either?

The thing is while nurses do have to do heavy lifting, they can generally get someone else to do the lifting for them, there are plenty of other people floating in the ED or on the floor and plenty of techs and CNAs and etc.

As an EMT/Paramedic it can just be you and your partner and your 180lb patient which more than passes the weight lifting restriction!

Also it depends on where you work as a doctor or nurse, if you routinely come in contact with physically violent patients, it may be best to take a desk job or LOA.

They should probably also take extra care with their infection control.

 

[reaper]

My old partner worked up till her 5 month. She started getting to uncomfortable in the truck and went on light duty. I think it is fine to a point. Once you really start to show, then you put the fetus at risk.

 

[Hastings]

To dispatch with 'em!

 

[Medic744]

For every man or woman who has not been in the position of having no choice but to work I have to ask that you consider that for some it may not be an option to take light duty, a LOA, or go to dispatch. It is a very personal decision for each woman. I cried at the thought of coming off the truck because I love my job and also couldnt afford to moneywise. I am also very in tune with my body and knew how far I could push myself and what was too much. While pregnant I protected myself and my baby. As far as lifting goes if you are having trouble with the 180lb pt during, then you probably couldnt lift before. I never had an issue with the physical aspects of the job. I know how to ask for help when I need it. If there can be men working who are overweight and look like a walking MI an women who cant handle the physical part of the job to begin with then why cant a healthy pregnant female with the green light from her doc work too?

 

[Sasha]

I know how to ask for help when I need it. If there can be men working who are overweight and look like a walking MI an women who cant handle the physical part of the job to begin with then why cant a healthy pregnant female with the green light from her doc work too?

Overweight men don't have a little fetus growing in their stomach.

I cried at the thought of coming off the truck because I love my job and also couldnt afford to moneywise.

That's you. Personally I couldn't see putting my fetus at risk, no amount of money is worth that.



[ Just a side note. That fetus is purely hypothetical. There is no fetus in my uterus. ]

 

[Medic744]

My son was never at risk. I got lucky and not only do I work with the best group of guys in the entire world (FD, PD, and EMS) but I was given the chance to work throught my pregnancy. If I had been pulled off the truck then I would have figured out the money situation but just because I was pregnant didn't mean I couldn't do my job. I was given the chance to make the choice for myself. It should be that way for every woman in the same situation. For people to assume that either you can't do it physically or mentally is ignorant. Each woman is different. The doctors don't tell you to stop exercising or doing anything else that you normally do while you are pregnant unless you feel it necessary, not anybody else, the mother. If there have been issues in the past then by all means kick up your feet and enjoy your pregnancy. There is no guarantee that if you stop working that nothing will go wrong. But if we, as women, stop making decisions for ourselves while pregnant and allow anyone to tell us that what we are doing is dangerous for our unborn child then there will be very little that any pregnant woman would be "allowed" to do. There was no reason for me not to work. My son is healthy and wonderful and was never at any risk. If anything while I was pregnant I was MORE vigilant about scene safety and personal safety. Dont get me wrong I don't think every woman should work in this field while pregnant but I also think that if they want to then more power to them and nobody has the right to judge them or give them grief about the decision that they are making. It is her decision to make.